Vacuum cleaner with silencing device

Abstract: A silencing device for a vacuum cleaner. In a primary embodiment, the silencing device includes dampers (41,42) for absorbing operational vibration of a suction motor (1). The operational noises of the suction motor (1) are intercepted and suppressed by a middle case (30), a lower case (10), a bottom case (50) and a top case (20). The exhaust noises caused by exhaust air flow are repeatedly absorbed and suppressed by a plurality of exhaust ports (I - VIII). The exhaust air flow is also dispersed so as to suppress the exhaust noises. In the primary embodiment, the noises generated by both the suction motor (1) and the exhaust air flow are effectively suppressed to desired low levels. In a second embodiment, the silencing device comprises a noise absorber (61) for absorbing and suppressing both suction noises caused by suction air flow and operational noises of the suction motor (1). The silencing device also has a cover (62) for covering and supporting the front surface of the noise absorber (61). The back of the noise absorber is supported by a rear supporter (63). In the second embodiment, the noises generated by both the suction motor (1) and the suction air flow during suction of dirt-laden air by the suction motor (1) are effectively suppressed to desired low levels.

Description: The present invention relates in general to a silencing device of a vacuum cleaner for effectively suppressing noises of the vacuum cleaner such as caused by a suction motor, suction air flow and exhaust air flow and, more particularly, to an improved structure in such a silencing device of the vacuum cleaner for improving the noise suppressing effect. In the prior art, there have been proposed and widely used several types of silencing devices for vacuum cleaners. For example, Japanese U.M. Publication No. Sho. 62-45631 (applied on Oct. 23, 1981 and published on Dec. 7, 1987) discloses a silencing device for a vacuum cleaner which is shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the conventional silencing device for a vacuum cleaner comprises a suction motor 2' provided in a cleaner casing 1'. In Figure 1, the exhaust port provided on the back of the casing 1' for exhausting the purified air to the outside is designated by the numeral 3' - The suction motor 2' for generating suction force communicates with the exhaust port 3' through both an air path 4' and an exhaust silencer 5'. The exhaust silencer 5' defines an exhaust path 6' therein. In the above silencing device, the exhaust path 6' of the exhaust silencer 5' is slangy connected to the air path 4' at an obtuse angle. With the slant connection between the exhaust path 6' and the air path 4' of the casing 1', it is possible to suppress the turbulence noise caused by the exhaust air flow having already passed the suction motor 2'. In the above silencing device, the turbulence noise is partly absorbed and suppressed by a noise absorbing material 7'. However, the above silencing device for a vacuum cleaner, while partly absorbing and suppressing the exhaust noise caused by the exhaust air flow having passed the suction motor 2', nevertheless has a problem that the exhaust air flow should pass through a relatively short path and be exhausted to the outside of the casing 1' from only one exhaust port 3' of the casing 1', so that it is impossible to achieve the desired noise absorbing and suppressing effect. The conventional silencing device has no means for suppressing the suction noise caused by the suction motor 2' so that it cannot help letting the suction noise emit to the outside of the casing 1'. Furthermore, the conventional silencing device cannot effectively absorb and suppress the noise caused by the exhaust air flow of the suction motor 2'. In this regard, a vacuum cleaner equipped with the above silencing device cannot help emitting an excessive noise to the outside during its operation. In addition, the conventional silencing device cannot suppress the noise caused by the suction air flow generated in the dirt collection chamber of the cleaner when the cleaner sucks dirt-laden air. The vacuum cleaner equipped with the above silencing device thus emits the excessive noise to the outside during its operation and this not only hurts the user's feelings but also deteriorates the quality of the vacuum cleaner. EP 528,451 (Daewoo) concerns a vacuum cleaner having a silencing device comprising: damping means for absorbing operational vibration of a suction motor of the cleaner; noise intercepting means for intercepting operational noises generated by the suction motor; noise absorbing and suppressing means for absorbing and suppressing exhaust noises caused by an exhaust air flow having already passed through the suction motor; and noise dispersing means for dispersing the exhaust air flow. However, this arrangement too only features a single exhaust port and, although it features a longer exhaust path, this path is defined entirely by its blower case and does not maximise use of the interior available space within the vacuum cleaner. DE 32 25 25 (Guido oberdorger WAP-Maschine describes a cleaner having exhaust air-following along seperate routes. It is, therefore, an aim of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner in which the aforementioned problems can be overcome and which more effectively absorbs and suppresses the noises of the cleaner, such as caused by the suction motor, exhaust air flow and suction air flow of the cleaner, thereby not only giving pleasure to the user but also improving the quality of the cleaner. According to the invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner comprising: damping means for absorbing operational vibration of a suction motor of the cleaner; noise intercepting means for intercepting operational noises generated by said suction motor; noise absorbing and suppressing means for guiding exhaust air flow along first and second seperated route while absorbing and suppressing exhaust noises caused by the exhaust air flow having already passed through said suction motor; and noise dispersing means for dispersing said exhaust air flow, wherein a plurality of exhaust paths are provided wherein a first portion of exhaust air flows along a first route of exhaust paths to be exhausted from the device via a first exhaust port of the noise dispersing means and a second portion of exhaust air flows along a second route of exhaust paths to be exhausted from the device via a second exhaust port of the noise dispersing means of the device and characterized in that said vacuum cleaner comprises a top case, a lower case (10) mounted to the top case (20), a bottom case (50) mounted to the lower case (10) and a middle case (30) disposed in said lower case (10), said suction motor (1) being disposed in said middle case (30), the noise absorbing and suppressing means comprising a first cavity (18') being provided in the lower case (10) in order to form an exhaust path in cooperation with both the bottom case (50) and the middle case (30) and absorbing and suppressing the noise caused by the exhaust air flow, the lower case (10) also including second and third cavities (18'', 18''') cooperating with the top case (20) so as to define an exhaust path and to absorb and suppress the noises caused by the exhaust air flow, the first route separating from the second route where a first part of the exhaust air flow is discharged to the outside of the middle case (30) through a cover part (31) of the middle case and a remaining part of the exhaust air flow is discharged to the outside of the middle case (30) through a rear part (38) of the middle case (30), said first and second routes thereafter flowing the first and remaining parts of the exhaust air flow separately from one another to be exhausted via the first exhaust port (VIII) and the second exhaust port (V) respectively. In accordance with the above, noises generated by both the suction motor and the exhaust air flow are effectively suppressed to desired low levels, thus to give pleasure to the user and improve the quality of the vacuum cleaner. Said exhaust path means preferably includes a first exhaust path for preliminarily absorbing and suppressing the exhaust noises while guiding said exhaust air flow, said first exhaust path being defined between said suction motor and a cover part of the middle case, said middle case receiving the suction motor therein. Preferably, a second exhaust path is provided for secondarily absorbing and suppressing the exhaust noises while guiding the exhaust air flow already passed through said first exhaust path, said second exhaust path being defined between a cover of the lower case and said cover part of the middle case, said lower case receiving said middle case therein. A third exhaust path is preferably provided for thirdly absorbing and suppressing the exhaust noises while guiding the exhaust air flow already passed through both the second exhaust path and an exhaust port of said middle case, said third exhaust path being defined between the bottom case and the outer cover of said middle case. Said exhaust path means may include a fourth exhaust path defined between a second cavity of a lower case and a top case and may also include a fifth exhaust path defined between a third cavity of a lower case and the top case. Said noise dispersing means preferably comprises: a plurality of exhaust ports for dispersing and suppressing the exhaust noises while passing the exhaust air flow therethrough; and a plurality of exhaust ports provided with their respective noise absorbing filters. Said noise dispersing means preferably comprises: said first exhaust port and said second exhaust port, which are provided with respective noise absorbing filters; and a plurality of further exhaust ports for dispersing and suppressing the exhaust noises while passing the exhaust air flow therethrough. Preferably, said noise intercepting means comprises : the middle case preliminarily intercepting the operational noises of the suction motor; the lower case and the bottom case, said lower and bottom cases secondarily intercepting the noises already intercepted by the middle case; and the top case thirdly intercepting the noises already intercepted by both lower and bottom cases, thus to suppress emission of the noises to the outside of the cleaner. Noises generated by both the suction motor and the suction air flow during suction of dirt-laden air by the suction motor can be effectively suppressed by this arrangement to desired low levels, thus to cause only a weak noise to be emitted to the outside and, as a result, give pleasure to the user and improve the quality of the vacuum cleaner. For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a vacuum cleaner equipped with a conventional silencing device; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of a vacuum cleaner having a silencing device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a partially broken perspective view of the silencing device according to the first embodiment having a lower case receiving a middle case therein; Figure 5 is a partially broken perspective view of the lower case of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a sectional view of the rear section of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 2, showing an exhaust air flow. With reference to Figures 2 to 6, there is shown a vacuum cleaner in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the vacuum cleaner, Figure 3 is an exploded view of the vacuum cleaner, Figure 4 is a partially broken perspective view of a lower case receiving a middle case therein, Figure 5 is a partially broken-perspective view of the lower case receiving no middle case therein, and Figure 6 is a sectional view of the rear section of the vacuum cleaner, showing the exhaust air flow in the rear section of the cleaner. In Figures 2 to 6, a suction motor for suction of dirt-laden air suction into the cleaner as well as for exhaust of purified air to the outside of the cleaner is designated by the numeral 1. Lower and top cases defining the outer appearance of the cleaner are designated by the numerals 10 and 20 respectively. The lower case 10 receives a middle case 30 therein. The lower case 10 also defines therein a dirt collection chamber 2 receiving a dirt collection bag. A middle case 30 is received in a middle case receiving chamber 12 of the lower case 10. The lower case 10 further includes a noise absorbing chamber 13 for absorbing the noise caused by the exhaust air flow having already passed through the suction motor 1. A first cavity 18' is provided in the lower case 10 in order for forming an exhaust path in cooperation with both a bottom case, which will be described later herein, and the middle case 30 and absorbing and suppressing the noise caused by the exhaust air flow. The lower case 10 also includes second and third cavities 18" and 18'''. The second and third cavities 18" and 18"' of the lower case 10 cooperate with the top case 20 so as to define an exhaust path and to absorb and suppress the noises caused by the exhaust air flow. In the lower case 10, the middle case receiving chamber 12 and the dirt collection chamber 2 are separated from each other by a support 14 having a suction port 141. The receiving chamber 12 and the noise absorbing chamber 13 are separated from each other by a partition 15 having an exhaust opening 151. The noise absorbing chamber 13 is also separated from the second cavity 18" by a partition wall 17. In order to separate the second cavity 18" from the outside, the lower case 10 has a outer casing 16. The first cavity 18' of the lower case 10 is defined by both a cover 11 and rib fixing parts 18. The third cavity 18"' is formed abort the dirt collection chamber 2. The cover 11 is provided with a plurality of exhaust ports VI for exhausting the exhaust air flow having already passed through the noise-absorbing chamber 13. In the same manner, a plurality of additional ports VII are formed on an inside wall, the inside wall defining the dirt collection chamber 2. The lower case 10 also has side exhaust ports VIII on its front opposite sides. The exhaust air is partly discharged to the outside through the side exhaust ports VIII which have their respective noise absorbing filters. The exhaust air is also partly discharged to the outside through a rear exhaust port V provided at the back of the lower case 10. In the same manner as described for the side exhaust ports VIII, the rear exhaust port V has a noise absorbing filter. The suction motor 1 includes damping means for absorbing the vibration generated by the motor 1 and suppressing the vibrating noise. That is, an annular front damper 41 having a suction port 411 is fitted over the front of the suction motor 1 in such a manner that a surface contact is achieved between the damper 41 and the front of the motor 1. The back of the suction motor 1 is provided with a rear center projection 3. This projection 3 is totally covered with a rear damper 42 of the cap type. With the front and rear dampers 41 and 42, the operational vibration of the suction motor 1 is reliably absorbed so that there is no vibrational noise in the suction motor 1 during the operation of the motor 1. The middle case 30 includes a motor chamber 39, which chamber 39 receives the suction motor 1 therein. The motor chamber 39 not only intercepts the noise of the suction motor 1 but also defines a first exhaust path A for absorbing and reducing the noise caused by the exhaust air flow of the suction motor 1. The middle case 30 further includes a cavity 32 which defines, in cooperation with the lower case 10, a second exhaust path B. That is, the middle case 30 includes a cover part 31 and a rear part 38 for forming the motor chamber 39 and receives the suction motor 1 in the motor chamber 39. The cavity 32 of the middle case 30 is defined by both the cover part 31 and an outer cover 35. The second exhaust path B, formed between the lower case 10 and the middle case 30 when the middle case 30 is received in the chamber 12 of the lower case 10, should be provided with airtightness. The desired airtightness of the path B is achieved by an airtight flange 33 placed at the front of the cover part 31 of the middle case 30. A damper support 37 is provided on the inner surface of the rear part 38 of the middle case 30. This support 37 partially receives the rear damper 42 so as to support the damper 42. On the other hand, an annular projection 36 extends from the outer surface of the rear part 38 and is fitted into the exhaust opening 151 of the lower case 10. In order for provision of the airtightness between the exhaust opening 151 of the lower case 10 and the annular projection 36, an annular packing 361 is interposed between the opening 151 and the annular projection 36. The outer cover 35 of the middle case 30 includes a pair of ribs 34 on its opposite side ends. The ribs 34 come into surface contact with the rib fixing parts 18 of the lower case 10 and are coupled to the fixing parts 18. The cover part 31, the rear part 38 and the outer cover 35 of the middle case 30 include their respective exhaust ports I, II and III for exhausting the air. The bottom case 50 is mounted on the bottom surface of the lower case 10. The top case 20 is provided with pipe receiving hole 21 for detachably receiving a suction pipe (not shown). The aforementioned elements are assembled into the silencing device for the vacuum cleaner as follows. In assembling the elements into the silencing device, the damping means comprising the front and rear dampers 41 and 42 is placed on the suction motor. That is, the front damper 41 comes into surface contact with the front of the suction motor 1. The front damper 41 is, thereafter, fixed to the front of the motor 1. In the same manner, the rear damper 42 is fixedly attached to the rear projections 3 of the suction motor 1. The front and rear dampers 41 and 42 absorb the operational vibration of the suction motor 1 and suppress the vibrational noise of the motor 1. After mounting the front and rear dampers 41 and 42 on opposite ends of the suction motor 1, the motor 1 is received in the motor chamber 39 of the middle case 30. At thus time, the rear damper 42 is received in and supported by the damper support 37 of the middle case 30. As a result of placing of the suction motor 1 in the motor chamber 39 of the middle case 30, the first exhaust path A is formed between the motor 1 and the cover part 31 of the middle case 30. The first exhaust path A guides the exhaust air flow out of the suction motor 1 and, as a result, absorbs and suppresses preliminarily the noise caused by the exhaust air flow. The middle case 30 is, thereafter, placed in the lower case 10. In placing the middle case 30 in the lower case 10, the front surface of the front damper 41 mounted on the suction motor 1 comes into surface contact with the inner surface of the support 14 of the lower case 10. The airtight f lange 33 of the middle case 30 comes, at its edge, into surface contact with a corresponding part of the inner surface of the lower case 10. In addition, the annular projection 36 of the middle case 30 is received in the exhaust opening 151 of the lower case 10 with airtight interposition of the annular packing 361 between them. As a result of placing of the middle case 30 in the lower case 10, the second exhaust path B is formed between the cover 11 of the lower case 10 and the cover part 31 of the middle case 30. The second exhaust path B will guide the exhaust air flow, which flow has been already guided by the first exhaust path A so as to be preliminarily absorbed and suppressed in its noise. As a result of the second guide of the exhaust air flow by the second path B, the noise of the exhaust air flow is again absorbed and suppressed. The placing of the middle case 30 as well as the suction motor 1 in the chamber 12 of the lower case 10 is followed by mounting of the bottom case 50 on the bottom surface of the lower case 10. As a result of mounting of the bottom case 50 on the bottom surface of the lower case 10, a third exhaust path C is formed between the bottom case 50 and the outer cover 35 of the middle case 30. The third path C guides the exhaust air flow, which flow has already passed through the second path B and been discharged from the exhaust port III of the outer cover 35 of the middle case 30. As a result of the third guide for the exhaust air flow by the third path C, the noise of the exhaust air flow is absorbed and suppressed once more again. When the top case 20 is coupled to the lower case 10 after the lower case 10 is coupled to the bottom case 50, the assembling of the casing of the vacuum cleaner is finished. As a result of coupling the top case 20 to the lower case 20, the fourth and fifth exhaust paths D and E are formed. In the above vacuum cleaner, the noise of the exhaust air flow out of the suction motor 1 is repeatedly absorbed and suppressed by the noise absorbing and suppressing means comprising the first to fifth exhaust paths A to E. The noise caused by the exhaust air flow out of the suction motor 1 is also dispersed by noise dispersing means, which dispersing means comprises the plurality of exhaust ports I, II, III, IV and VII and the plurality of exhaust ports V and VIII, the exhaust ports V and VIII being provided with their respective noise absorbing filters. With the noise dispersing by the dispersing means, the noise caused by the exhaust air flow from the suction motor 1 is effectively suppressed. The noise suppressing effect of the above silencing device is doubled by the noise intercepting means. That is, with the noise intercepting means comprising the middle case 30, the lower case 10, the bottom case 50 and the top case 20, the operational noise caused by the suction motor 1 is not emitted to the outside but successfully intercepted. The operational effect of the silencing device of the primary embodiment will be described hereinbelow. When turning on a power switch (not shown), the dirt-laden air is sucked into the dirt collection chamber through a nozzle (not shown) and the suction pipe (not shown) by the suction force of the suction motor 1. In the dirt collection chamber equipped with a dirt collection bag, the dirt-laden air is filtered so as to be purified. The purified air is, thereafter, introduced into the suction motor 1 while the dirt remains in the dirt collection bag. During operation of the suction motor 1, the motor 1 generates vibration which will cause vibrational noise. However, the vibration of the suction motor 1 is absorbed by the damping means so that the vibrational noise of the motor 1 is not emitted to the outside but suppressed. The suction motor I also causes another noise or an operational noise such as caused by rotation of a rotor. However, this operational noise is preliminary intercepted by the middle case 30 receiving the motor 1 therein and, thereafter, again intercepted by both the middle case receiving chamber 12 of the lower case 10 and the bottom case 50. The operational noise of the motor 1 is last intercepted by the top case 20. That is, the operational noise of the suction motor 1 is repeatedly intercepted by the noise intercepting means, comprising the cases 10, 20, 30 and 50, thus to be successfully suppressed. In this regard, the operational noise of the motor 1 is not emitted to the outside. In addition, the exhaust air flow out of the suction motor 1 generates an exhaust noise. However, this exhaust noise is absorbed and suppressed as the exhaust air flow passes in order through the exhaust paths A, B, C, D and E. The exhaust air flow is, thereafter, dispersed and discharged to the outside through the plurality of exhaust ports V and VIII of the lower case 10. In this regard, the exhaust noise of the vacuum cleaner is successfully suppressed and emitted to the outside as a lower level noise. That is, the exhaust noise caused by the exhaust air from the suction motor 1 is absorbed and suppressed as the exhaust air flow passes through the noise absorbing and suppressing means comprising the exhaust paths A, B, C, D and E. The exhaust air flow is additionally dispersed and discharged to the outside through the noise dispersing means comprising exhaust ports V and VII of the lower case 10. The exhaust noise of the vacuum cleaner is thus successfully suppressed and emitted to the outside as the lower level noise. As described in detail, the exhaust air flow out of the suction motor 1 passes through the first exhaust path A formed between the suction motor 1 and the cover part 31 of the middle case 30. Thereafter, the exhaust air flow is partly discharged to the outside of the middle case 30 through the exhaust port I of the cover part 31 of the middle case 30 as shown at the arrow "a". The other part of the exhaust air flow is discharged, as shown at the arrow "b", to the outside of the middle case 30 through the exhaust port II formed on the rear part 38 of the middle case 30. The exhaust air flow discharged from the exhaust port I of the cover part 31 of the middle case 30 in turn passes through the second exhaust path B formed between the cover 11 of the lower case 10 and the cover part 31 of the middle case 30. The exhaust air flow is, thereafter, discharged from the exhaust port III of the outer cover 35 of the middle case 30 as shown at the arrow "c" of Figure 4. The exhaust air flow out of the exhaust port III of the outer cover 35 passes through the third exhaust path C formed between the outer cover 35 of the middle case 30 and the bottom case 50. This exhaust air flow is, thereafter, discharged from the exhaust port VII of the lower case 10 as shown at the arrow "d" of Figure 3. The exhaust air flow out of the exhaust port VII of the lower case 10 passes through the fifth exhaust path E formed between the top case 20 and the lower case 10. This exhaust air flow is, thereafter, discharged from the lower case 10 through the exhaust port VIII of the lower case 10 as shown at the arrow "e" of Figure 3. Here, the exhaust port VIII of the lower case 10 is provided with the noise absorbing filter so that the exhaust noise, which noise possibly remains in the exhaust air flow regardless of passing of the exhaust air flow through the exhaust paths A to E, is last absorbed and suppressed as the exhaust air flow passes through exhaust port VIII. Meanwhile, the exhaust noise caused the exhaust air flow, which exhaust air flow has already passed through the suction motor 1, the first exhaust path A and the exhaust port II of the rear part 38 of the middle case 30 as shown at the arrow "b", is absorbed and suppressed by the noise absorbing chamber 13 of the lower case 10. The exhaust air flow, thereafter, passes through the exhaust ports VI of the cover 11 of the lower case 10 as shown at the arrow "f". The exhaust air flow out of the exhaust ports VI passes through the exhaust path E formed between the partition wall 17 of the lower case 10 and the top case 20 and, thereafter, exhausts to the outside through the rear exhaust port V of the lower case 10 as shown at the arrow "g" of Figures 2 to 4. The exhaust port V of the lower case 10 is provided with the noise absorbing filter in the same manner as described for the exhaust port VIII so that the exhaust noise, which noise possibly remains in the exhaust air flow regardless of passing of the exhaust air flow through the exhaust paths A and B and the noise absorbing chamber 13, is last absorbed and suppressed as the exhaust air flow passes through exhaust port V. The operational vibration of the suction motor 1 is absorbed by the damping means of the suction motor 1 so that the vibrational noise possibly caused by the vibration of the motor 1 is successively suppressed. The operational noise of the suction motor 1, which operational noise is caused by such as rotation of the rotor of the motor 1, is intercepted by the noise intercepting means and successfully suppressed in the casing of the vacuum cleaner. The exhaust noise caused by the exhaust air flow out of the suction motor 1 is absorbed and suppressed by both the noise absorbing and suppressing means and the noise dispersing means, thus to be suppressed and to become a lower level noise when emitted to the outside of the cleaner. With the above noise suppressing effect, the silencing device according to the primary embodiment gives pleasure to the user and improves the quality of the vacuum cleaner. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims: A vacuum cleaner comprising : damping means (41,42) for absorbing operational vibration of a suction motor (1) of the cleaner; noise intercepting means (30,10,50,20) for intercepting operational noises generated by said suction motor; noise absorbing and suppressing means (A-E) for guiding exhaust air flow along first and second separated routes while absorbing and suppressing exhaust noises caused by the exhaust air flow having already passed through said suction motor; and noise dispersing means (I - VIII) for dispersing said exhaust air flow, wherein a plurality of exhaust paths (a-g) are provided wherein a first portion of exhaust air flows along a first route (a, c, d, e) of exhaust paths to be exhausted from the cleaner via a first exhaust port (VIII) of the noise dispersing means and a second portion of exhaust air flows along a second route (b, f, g) of exhaust paths to be exhausted from the cleaner via a second exhaust port (V) of the noise dispersing means of the device and characterized in that said vacuum cleaner comprises a top case, a lower case (10) mounted to the top case (20), a bottom case (50) mounted to the lower case (10) and a middle case (30) disposed in said lower case (10), said suction motor (1) being disposed in said middle case (30), the noise absorbing and suppressing means comprising a first cavity (18') being provided in the lower case (10) in order to form an exhaust path in cooperation with both the bottom case (50) and the middle case (30) and absorbing and suppressing the noise caused by the exhaust air flow, the lower case (10) also including second and third cavities (18'', 18''') cooperating with the top case (20) so as to define an exhaust path and to absorb and suppress the noises caused by the exhaust air flow, the first route separating from the second route where a first part of the exhaust air flow is discharged to the outside of the middle case (30) through a cover part (31) of the middle case and a remaining part of the exhaust air flow is discharged to the outside of the middle case (30) through a rear part (38) of the middle case (30), said first and second routes thereafter flowing the first and remaining parts of the exhaust air flow separately from one another to be exhausted via the first exhaust port (VIII) and the second exhaust port (V) respectively. The cleaner according to Claim 1, wherein said exhaust path means includes a first exhaust path (A) for preliminarily absorbing and suppressing the exhaust noises while guiding said exhaust air flow, said first exhaust path (A) being defined between said suction motor (1) and the cover part (31) of the middle case (30), said middle case (30) receiving the suction motor (1) therein. The cleaner according to Claim 2, further comprising a second exhaust path (B) for secondarily absorbing and suppressing the exhaust noises while guiding the exhaust air flow already passed through said first exhaust path (A), said second exhaust path (B) being defined between the cover (11) of the lower case (10) and said cover part (31) of the middle case (30), said lower case (10) receiving said middle case (30) therein. The cleaner according to Claim 3, further comprising a third exhaust path (C) for thirdly absorbing and suppressing the exhaust noises while guiding the exhaust air flow already passed through both the second exhaust path (B) and an exhaust port (III) of said middle case (30), said third exhaust path (C) being defined between the bottom case (50) and an outer cover (35) of said middle case (30). The cleaner according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said exhaust path means includes a fourth exhaust path (D) defined between the second cavity of the lower case (10) and the top case (20). The cleaner according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said exhaust path means includes a fifth exhaust path (E) defined between the third cavity of a lower case (10) and the top case (20). The cleaner according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said noise dispersing means (I - VIII) comprises: said first exhaust port (VIII) and said second exhaust port (V), which are provided with respective noise absorbing filters; and a plurality of further exhaust ports (I, II, III, IV, VI, VII) for dispersing and suppressing the exhaust noises while passing the exhaust air flow therethrough. The cleaner according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said noise intercepting means (30,10,50,20) comprises: the middle case (30) preliminarily intercepting the operational noises of the suction motor (1); the lower case (10) and the bottom case (50), said lower (10) and bottom (50) cases secondarily intercepting the noises already intercepted by the middle case (30); and the top case (20) thirdly intercepting the noises already intercepted by both lower (10) and bottom cases (50), thus to suppress emission of the noises to the outside of the cleaner.

Inventors: CHOI JONG-SU, KIM TAE-SIG, CHOI, JONG-SU, KIM, TAE-SIG
Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A47L9
IPC codes: A47L9